Masuk beats Bunnell on freshman Zylick’s field goal as time expires
MONROE — The scoreboard had finally been updated from a tie to a 31-28 Masuk win, and the freshman who had broken that tie Friday night stood in front of it with the game ball tucked into his helmet.
And his football big brothers were there for it.
“I went through the kick just like I do in practice, going through the motions,” Jackson Zylick after his 37-yard field goal as time expired gave the Panthers a win over Bunnell.
Senior Ryan Fedeli came running over. “This is the GOAT right here!” he yelled.
Zylick laughed. “It felt great when it went through. Got to celebrate with the team after that.”
Senior Jonathan Petruny wasn’t done celebrating. “Ice in his veins!” the defensive lineman shouted.
Masuk was all smiles after coming from a 15-point halftime deficit to tie, then from seven down with 9:54 left in a game that, if it wasn’t necessarily must-win, was getting there in a Class MM playoff picture that’s still pretty murky at midseason. Both teams are now 3-2; they had both come into the game 2-0 in the SWC.
“I mean, you think Masuk-Bunnell, this is exactly what you think of, instant classic,” Bunnell coach Ty Jenkins said. “My hat’s off to those guys, that staff. They’ve been in this spot a lot of times. Me and my staff, this is our first go at it, 29 years old and figuring it out. These are games that are going to help us in the future.”
After Jason Champagne’s fourth touchdown and Zylick’s second extra point on two tries tied it with 3:50 left, Masuk’s defense held, and a short punt gave the Panthers the ball back with 2:10 to go on the Bunnell 40.
They converted on fourthand-1 to get inside the 30. They got to the 20 and called time out with one second left.
Three weeks ago, Zylick and Masuk had a chance to tie St. Joseph at the buzzer; his 41-yard kick came up inches short.
“He’s the best. He should’ve hit the St. Joe’s one. Listen, he hit laces; no one knows,” Masuk coach Steve Christy said. “He’s a stud. This kid’s a stud.
“We were playing for that (field goal), and we knew he had it. He kicked it pure, man, that was pure. That kid’s amazing. He’s a freshman.”
Zylick, who’s 10-for-10 on extra points, said he has hit from around 50 in practice, so he felt pretty good from 37.
“The biggest thing is keeping our season alive, playoff contention,” he said. “We’ve just got to do what we’ve got to do.”
Class MM has three unbeaten teams, six with one loss and nine with two. Only the top eight make the playoffs. With scores still trickling in late Friday, Masuk sat 10th; Bunnell, which has Newtown next week, was 18th, ahead of crosstown rival Stratford (2-3), which meets Masuk next week.
Champagne’s third touchdown got Masuk within 21-19 late in the third quarter. After a double handoff on the conversion, Fedeli found quarterback Dylan Jackson alone in the right corner of the end zone.
“It was the Philly Special,” Christy said, alluding to the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII conversion to Nick Foles, “but Masuk style. We call it the DJ Special, because Dylan Jackson’s my boy.”
Bunnell came back with Michael Trovarelli’s third touchdown — two rushing, one on an 83-yard punt return, and he also threw a touchdown pass — but Masuk responded with a 14play touchdown drive.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Boy, it’s hard not to say the freshman kicker, but Masuk junior Jason Champagne ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, and he caught five passes for 90 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown.